Kent Conrad: Obama ‘more detached’

Former Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad, one of President Barack Obama’s first allies in his 2008 presidential bid, said Wednesday that the president is “more detached” than he would like.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, the former North Dakota senator was asked whether he thinks Obama is detached. “More detached than I would like, that is for certain,” Conrad said. “Look, he was not detached when he was seeking office. I don’t quite know what’s happening in his thinking. But I do think he really needs to engage. If I were advising him, I would tell him, be up on that [Capitol] Hill.”

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Conrad’s comments echo a familiar Beltway refrain that the president hasn’t cultivated the types of working relationships needed with lawmakers in both parties. “If you are talking to people and you’re seriously listening to them, they will cut you a break,” he said. “But if you don’t talk to them, if you’re not reaching out to them, they think the worst. It is human nature. Relationships really matter.”

The senator added that for the first two years of Obama’s presidency, he thought that he was “very engaged.”

“Then, something happened,” Conrad said, suggesting that perhaps Obama has become tired of some “over the top, disrespectful” criticism he has received from lawmakers.

Conrad was the second senator — behind Obama’s Illinois counterpart, Sen. Dick Durbin — to endorse Obama for president, which he did in December 2007. When the former Senate Budget Committee chairman announced he would retire when his term was up in 2012, Obama praised him as a “good friend” and “tireless advocate” for North Dakota.

Last month, the public relations firm Edelman announced that both Conrad and another former Budget Committee chairman, Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), would be joining the firm’s Washington office.

In the interview Wednesday, Conrad praised the president for his efforts in the economic recovery, but again suggested he needs to better connect with Congress.

“Mr. President, you have been a transformational leader,” he said. “You have helped avoid this country slipping into a depression. … But right now, you have to reengage with Congress and the American people. It is critical you do so.”